End load brace



Feb. 20, 1945.v

E. B. JOHNSON END LOAD BRACE Original Filed May l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 20,1945. E. B. .JOHNSON END LOAD BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet v.2

'Original Filed May l, 1942 3 JQ, Ww

- faz/671% Edwin @72725071 J@- Patented Feb. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'y Y 2,369,584 I y Y 'END LOAD BBACE Edwin B. Johnson, Chicago, QIll. original application May 1, f' 1942,l serial No. 441,251. Divided and this application June 16, f y ,1943,se1-ia1`N0-.491p03 -11 claims.' (ci. 10s- 369) The present invention relates to anv end load ace which has been adapted for usein freight cars of the box car type, andthe subject mattei' thereof has been divided from my prior application for patent on an improvement in a Load brace,l Serial No. 441,251', filed May 1, 1942, now

Patent No. 2,336,869, dated December 14, 1943.

In the'past it hasv been common practice to utilize the very conveniently located .door posts of a' box car forv nailing the variousparts or' the partitions thereto particularly when the car is being loaded at one end only or at both ends individually with different merchandise.

'i IAn object of the present invention is to provide the box car with load braces which can be readily adapted for building up partitions transverselyof the freight Car.

Another object is to provide cooperative means disposed in substantial alignment with the door poststransversely of thecar to provide a means for holding a timber intermediate the'sides of the l car to back upthe load when one end of the car lis, being loaded, this timber being readily removable and replaceable without'resorting to the use of nails. Heretofore, the-use of upright timbers kin the center portion o f the ca'r, by fastening the -same with nails or the like, has also been objectionable by reason of the fact that the car floor Vand the ceiling structure eventually had to 'be repaired due to the mutilation accompanying this method of building up of crating partitions.

All other v objects and advantages associated with thedeviceof thisinvention shall hereinafter -.,liig. 3 Vis an enlargedvertical sectional view taken along the line 3-,3 in Fig. 2.y

Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional view taken '.along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the Well or bottom unit per se which is adapted for holding `the lower en pf the centraltimber in the car.

,Referring now to Figs. land 2 which diagram-l matically illustrate the general construction ofk a freightcar of the boxcar type, the ycar generally consists ofathe 'side walls IU and Il, end walls l2 through a ance of the carbeing closed by the ceiling structure I6 and flooring l1. Adjacent'the openings for the 'doors I4 and vl5 are'the door posts I8 an'd I9 at one'side of the car and 2B and 2l at the other side 'ofthe carrespectively. Some of the `freight cars are lined from floor to ceiling with an inner liner that is usually builtflu'sh with the door posts, but in the 'car illust'fra'tedy a belt lining determining the storage or shipping spaces A and B. The partition backing up the load at A in the box car is designated as a Whole at 23 while the partition backing up the load at B in the box car is similarly designated as 24. The foregoing partitons are used when backing loads less than the Whole car loads `and when a full carshipment is being loaded the partitions 23 and 24 will not be used, but longitudinal partitions such as `indi-` cated in dotted lines 25 and 26 are then employed.

In order to carry out one` of the objects of this invention, a plurality of clamping devices as indicated at 21 in Fig. `2 have been provided and Aassociated with the door posts.` Also, centrally of the car, suitableceiling xtures and floor wells have been utilized and are indicated in general at 28 and 29 respectively.v

The clamping devices 2l abovereferred vtoforxn no part of the present application but are fully described in the above identied parent from which thev present lapplication has been divided.

" Reference may be had tothe aforesaid parent for a full understanding of said clamping devices. The latter are employed to removably secure timbers T to the door posts as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. It is apparent from the foregoing explanation that-timbersvsuch as T can be" used and replaced at will to form a protective lining for the door posts and thatth'ey may beused for the reception of nails should that becomev necessary, or else they may be used as vertically disposed shoulders to hold the partition individual pieces or planks P of the partition 23 as bestillustrated in Fig. 2. The common practice is to beginloading a car at the extreme end thereof progressively stackingr the merchandise toward the fcenter of the car and then inserting the partition pieces or planks y P one by one as the heightofI the loadlncreases.

f Under normal conditions the load, when relatively heavy, will only be stacked or piled high enough 'and;|3, and thelusual doors I4 and l5,-the bal- 55 to be approximately level withthe belt lining and Well iixtureA 29 is suitably nested in the car ooi" l1 and secured by a plurality of screws 46. This s well is provided with a cover 41 which isnormally closed by means of a spring-actuated latch bar 4S having its operating member flush with the car iioor surfaces `and the surface of the cover M. Cover 41 is hinged by means 'of pins 48 oppositely disposed, the pins being locked against loosening by a spacer 49 suitably secured by means of screws 56 to the underside of the cover 41. 1

VThe well. iixtureiil has its opening 5l of such ,proportions as to loosely receive a'timber T' therei'fn andone face of the openingi is provided with ,aretaining lip or claw `52 which` is adapted to bite into'the timber T" upon the insertion of a Wedge lW in. the manner best shown in Fig. 3. By the use of the wedge, thetimber T is readily secured *tol the car floor without nailing of' the timber to the floor and the wedge Waiter it has been driven in. place can be suitably nailed to the timber T as at 53-to prevehta'ccidental retraction thereof. The upper end of the timber T' is adapted' to .bereceived in a header 55 of the ceiling xt'ure 28,' the header having a laterally disposed side Vthereof open as at 56 to allow the timber T to enter into the pocket portion of the' header. The header 55 yis suitably secured to the ceiling structure by means of" screws 51 or any other suitable means while a bracket 158 is connected between the header 55 and the ceiling I6 at the sideof the header oppo'sit'ely disposed to the pressure of the load.

Within the pocket portion'of the header 55, the

device' includes a cap' member B0 'which is norm'ally urged toward' the car'floor and against the upper end of 'inserted'timber'T by suitably acting and supported springs '6L For all practical purposes the spring'sl can' be of sufficient strength 'to' hold' the' timber T against movement out of the header', 'but thisaction of movement-of the timber toward the opening 56 is readily oounteracted' 'andA prevented by the wedge W actingwithin the well opening 5l.

"In ord'erto properly guide the upper end 0f the timber T underneath' the cap 60 of the header I'55, a suitable strap'62, which may or may not be in `the form of aspring leaf, is riveted to the cap as at 63' and has a looseupturned end encircling a rod B4', the" end portions* of the rod 6l!V being vertically guidedby the bearing blocks B5 for' limited vertical movement which has been lprofvidedl to compensate for the vertical movement of the cap 6D upon insertion and removal of timber 'TC' To further-facilitate the placing of the timber T intov position to be clamped by the cap v'member B0, the upper corner y66 of the timber T' is chamfered.- the AlowerV corner 61 ofthe same timber; likewise being chamfered to facilitate insertion into the-wellxtureZS.

, It isi tol be understood' that in building up a partition the planks P thereof are nailed to the oppositely disposed rtimbers T at the door posts to fasten them in place and they may be also nailed .to the timber I" which is intermediate the timbers Obviously, the foregoing description relates to a preferred embodiment of the device as shown and illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings. It is contemplated, however, to make such changes as may be governed by the breadth and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. An end load brace for a conveyance comprising upper and lower aligned securing units for holding a partition timber in place, said units being fastened respectively to the ceiling and iioor of the conveyance, and the upper unit having a pocket open at the adjacent load holding side of the conveyance through which opening the upper end of the timber may be inserted into the pocket, and' the pocket having three sides for restraining lateral movements 0f the upper end of the timber in a direction away from the adjacent load holding side of the conveyance and in directions transversely of the conveyance, resilient downwardly urged clamp means interposed between the upper securing unit and the upper end ofthe timber for allowing limited endwi'se movement of said timber between the aligned units due to car weaving, the lower one of said securing units having wedge means interposed between a wall of said unit and lower end of the timber for holding said timber against radial displacement relative to both of said units, thewedge means of said unit being releastable to allow removal of said timber fromsaid uni s.

2. An end load brace for a conveyance comprising upper and lower securing units' for holding a partition timber in place, said units being fastened respectively to the ceiling and floor of the conveyance, and the ceiling unit having a pocket open at the adjacent load holding'si-de of the conveyance through `which open-ing the upper end of the timber may be insertedinto the pocket, and said pocket having three sides for restraining lateral movements of the upper end of the timber in a direction away from said load holding side of the .conveyance and in directions transversely of the conveyance, the lower one oi said units providing a well for receiving the lower end of said timber and including wedge mea-ns for holding said one end of the timber against radial displacement in saidwwell, a resilient downwardly urged clamp` means carried by the upper units for engagement with the upper end of said timber, and guide means connected `with said latter unit for guiding the upper endof the timber into eugagement with said resilient clamp means.

3. An end load bracing` device. for a box car, and in combination, ceiling. and oor securing units for holding a partition timber in place in said car, saidunits being fastened. respectively to the ceiling and iioor of the car, and. said oor unit comprising a well for the reception of the lower end of said timber, and the ceiling unit comprising a pocket member for the reception ofthe other end of said timber, said pocket being open at the adjacentwload holding side of the car through which opening the upper end of the timber may be inserted into the: pocket member and. said pocket member having three sides for restraining lateral movements of the upper end of the timber in a direction away from said. open side of the pocket member and in directions transversely of the car, resilient downwardly urged clamp means carried by said ceiling unit pressing against the upper end of the timber tasteady the latter, and said floor unit including a wedgemearis interposed betweena Wall of the well and the timber saccage/i for clamping said timber againstradial movement within said well and acting to prevent withdrawal of .said timberfrom within the pocketmember of saidceilingunt., n n A Y 4. An end loadbracingdevice for a box car,

and in combination, `ceilingand oorv units for holding-a partition timber-in'placein said car,

said units being fastened respectively to the ceiling and floor of. the car, and saidv ioor` unit comprisinga well for the reception-of koneeend of said memberhaving an opening at the adjacent load holding side of the car for the-reception of the upper end of said,timber,and1three; sides for restraining lateral'movements of the upper end oi 1o timber, and the ceiling unit comprising a pocket the timber in a direction awayfrom said opening and in directions transverselyof the car andaresilient downwardly urged clamp'means vmounted in said pocket member :for pressing against-,the

r-upper end ofsaid timber, andsaid iioorunit having wedge means disposed between a wall of* the well and the timber to prevent radial movement of said timber within the `well and.. to

counteract movement of the upper end of the timber inthe direction of the opening in said pocket member. f-

A5. An end load brace structure for a conveyance including spaced upper and lower timber securing means for retaining timbers in vertical position between oor and ceiling within the cargo-carrying body of such conveyance to back up partition planks, said upper and lower securing means being substantially aligned and fastened respectively to the ceiling and oor'of the conveyance, and each engaging one of the timbers respectively, each of said upper spaced timber securing means comprising a pocket open at the adjacent load holding side of the conveyance through which opening the upper end of a timber may be inserted into the pocket, the latter having three sides for restraining lateral movements of the upper end of a timber in a direction away from said open side and in directions transversely of the conveyance, a resilient downwardly urged inverted U -shaped clamp carried by each said pocket and guided thereby for vertical movement, said clamp being adapted to straddle the upper end of a timber and to urge the latter into abutting engagement with the opposite aligned timber securing means, and guide means connected betweeneach said upper pocket and clamp to guide the upper end ofa timber into operative holding position by the clamp.

6. An end load brace structure for a conveyance including upperand lower spaced timber securing means for retaining timbers in vertical position between oor and ceiling within the cargo carrying body of such conveyance to back up partition planks, said upper and lower securing means being substantially aligned and fastened respectively to the ceiling and iioor of the conveyance and each engaging one of the timbers respectively,

said upper timber securing means each comprising a pocket open at the adjacent load lholding side of the conveyance and having three sides for restraining lateral movements of the upper end of the timber in a direction away from the open side of the pocket and in directions transversely of the conveyance, a resilient downwardly urged inverted U-shaped clamp carried by each said upper timber securing means and guided thereby, said clampbeing adapted to straddle the'upper end of 'a timber and to urge the latter into abutting engagement with the lower support, and guide means connected between each said upper 7., An endfload-brace structure for a conveyance including upper. andlowe'r securing means for holding a timber in position within a cargo carrylingbody of said conveyance and to back up partitionplanksin said body, said securing means being fastened respectively to the ceiling and iioor of the conveyance, and each securing means comprising a clamping unit, the upper timber securing means having a pocket open at the adjacent lload holding side of the conveyance, and three sides vfor restraining lateral movements of 'the upper end of the timber in a directiony away yfro-rn the open side of the pocket and in directions transversely of the conveyance, a spring pressed downwardly urged inverted U-shaped clamping member'mounted `for vertical movement in the yupper ,timber securing means and guided thereby :to yengage thetimber and to bodily urge said timberl into abutting relation with the lower of said timber securing means in operative plank holding position, and stabilizing means interposed between ya wall of said lower securing means for engaging the lower end of said timber to prevent movement of the same in a lateral direction relative to the length of the timber.

8. An end load brace structure for a conveyance including upper and lower timber securing means'A for retaining a timber in vertical position between floor and ceiling within the cargo carrying body of such conveyance to back up partition planks, said securing means being substantially aligned and fastened respectively to the ceiling and floor of the conveyance, and each engaging anend of the timber, the upper one of said securing means comprising a pocket open at the adjacent load lholding side of the conveyance and having three sides for restraining lateral movements of the upper end of the timber in a direction away from the o-pen side of the pocket and in directions transversely of the conveyance, a resilient downwardly urged inverted U-shaped clamp carried by said upper timber securing means and guided thereby for Vertical movement therein, said 'clamp A being adapted to straddle the upper end of a timber and to urge the latter toward the oor into abutting engagement with the lowerl securing means, 4and guide means connected between said upper support and clamp to guide the upper end of a timber into operative holding position by the clamp.

9. An end load brace structure for a conveyance vincluding upper and lower securing means for retaining a timber in vertical position between floorA and ceiling within a cargo carrying body of such conveyance to back up partition planks, said se-` curing means being substantially alignedvand .fastened respectively to the ceiling and. floor of the conveyance, and each engaging an end: of the timber, saidl upper securing means each comprising a pocket open at the adjacent load holding side of the conveyance and having three sides for restraining lateral movements of the upper end of the timber in a direction away from the open side of the pocket and in directions transversely'.

of the conveyance, a resilient downwardly urged inverted U-shaped clamp carried by and guided by said upper securing means for vertical movement therein, said clamp being adapted to strad- :dle a timber and to*v urge the latter -towardrthe floor into abutting. engagement ,with the other support, and guide means connected between: said upperV securing. means and clamp to guide the upper end of a timber into operative holding position by the clamp, and said; lower Atimber: seeming f means comprising a Walled timber receiving weil having claw and wedge units connected with opthe timber in a direction away from said load holding side and in directions transversely of the conveyance, resilientI downwardly urged clamping means carried by the upper timber securing unit and engaging the upper end of the timber for allowing limited. endwise movement of said timber between the aligned units dueto car weaving, and

asoma-i the other ot said umts having awelltoreceive the other end ot theJ timber', a claw in; said weil engaging said timber andl preventing withdrawal thereof when engaged, and a removable wedging means in theweil'. opposite the,` claw for forcing a timber into engagement therewith.

11. An end load. brace tor av conveyance comprising upper and lower aligned timber securing uni-ts', one attached to the ceiling of the conveyance and otherattaehedto thefloor thereof, the Latter having av well in which. the lower end of the timbery is received, the upperl securing unit having an open side through which the upper end of the timber may be. inserted intoy said unit andv having threesdes. forv restraining lateral movements of the upper end` of said timber in a direction away from said? open side. and in direc- .tions transversely of theconveyance, clamp/means for holding the lower end of the timber against withdrawad from the Well'T and' clamp means associated with saidv well and bearing against a side of the timber to huid the upper end thereof seated in. the upper unit.

Bl JOHNSON. 

